A World War II veteran and former plumber, Marvin was first cast in tough guy roles, such as those he played in The Big Heat (1953) and The Killers (1964). But over his long career, his range expanded, and his humorous performance in Cat Ballou (1965) won him an Oscar. Marvin's later work included thrillers (Point Blank, 1967), musicals (Paint Your Wagon, 1969), and war stories (The Big Red One, 1980).